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Green Day
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Green Day was part of the northern California underground punk scene. Childhood friends Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar, vocals) and Mike Dirnt (bass; born Mike Pritchard) formed their first band, Sweet Children, in Rodeo, CA, when they were 14 years old. By 1989, the group had added drummer Al Sobrante and changed its name to Green Day. That year, the band independently released its first EP, 1000 Hours, which was well received in the California hardcore punk scene. Soon, the group had signed a contract with the local independent label Lookout. Green Day\'s first album, 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour, was released later that year.
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Green Day is an American rock band comprising three core members Green Day was originally part of the punk rock scene at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California. Their early releases for independent label Lookout! Records earned them a grassroots fanbase, some of whom felt alienated when the band signed to a major label. Nevertheless, their major label debut Dookie became a breakout success in 1994 and eventually sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. Green Day currently have three ...Read More >
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Throughout the early '90s, Green Day continued to cultivate a cult following, which only gained strength with the release of their second album, 1992's Kerplunk. The underground success of Kerplunk led to a wave of interest from major record labels; the band eventually decided to sign with Reprise. Dookie, Green Day's major-label debut, was released in the spring of 1994. Thanks to MTV support for the initial single, "Longview," Dookie became a major hit. The album continued to gain momentum throughout the summer, with the second single, "Basket Case," spending five weeks on the top of the American modern rock charts. At the end of the summer, the band stole the show at Woodstock '94, which helped the sales of Dookie increase.
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Green Day quickly followed Dookie with Insomniac in the fall of 1995; during the summer, they hit number one again on the modern rock charts with "J.A.R.," their contribution to the Angus soundtrack. Insomniac performed well initially, entering the U.S. charts at number two, and selling over two million copies by the spring of 1996, yet none of its singles -- including the radio favorite "Brain Stew/Jaded" -- were as popular as those from Dookie. In the spring of 1996, Green Day abruptly canceled a European tour, claiming exhaustion. Following the cancellation, the band spent the rest of the year resting and writing new material, issuing Nimrod in late 1997. Three years later, their long-awaited follow-up, a refreshingly poppy record titled Warning, was released. Another long wait preceded 2004\'s American Idiot, an aggressive rock opera that became a surprise success -- a chart-topper around the world, a multi-platinum seller, and easily the best reviewed album of their career.
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In the middle of their Canadian Idiot tour, the members of Green Day were informed that they were running in the Presidential race against Dubya. Even though there were only 2 weeks left until Election Day. Feeling sorry for President Bush, Green Day allowed him to be President for 25 hours. Allah, the democratic candidate, was so pissed, that he shate on the Republicans. Green Day had a very successful presidency; during their 25 hours in office, they managed to put in place a law which forced radio stations and music channels to play their songs incessantly. They ... managed to shave the people of Africa (due to an embarrassing yet hilarious typo), the children, and the Queen.
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With Dookie being so successful, it came as no surprise when Green Day was nominated in no less than four Grammy categories. In 1995, it was confirmed that they had sold over 10 million albums worldwide, a stunning achievement for a band remaining faithful to a basic punk pop framework. Insomniac (1995) and Nimrod (1997) confirmed their popularity, with the band's fans seemingly unfazed by the weakness of the songs compared to the material on Dookie. The tracks "Geek Stink Breath", "Brain Stew"/"Jaded", "Hitchin' A Ride" and "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)' received extensive airplay. Their fourth major label release, October 2000"s Warning, was a hugely enjoyable power pop album that, contrary to the band's defiant claims, owed little to their punk roots.
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Green Day